"Do you know what happened to them?" I asked suddenly as Devon and I walked down a small road, taking a shortcut to the hangar.

"Them?" Devon asked skeptically. "I'm not really sure. David, Lily and I busted out of that place in two seconds flat. We didn't want to stick around."

I fell silent with relief. "I wonder what the judge was talking about," I added. "Do you know him or something? I mean, how'd he recognize Alex?"

"You got me," Devon said, his dark eyes calculating. "But I sincerely hope we don't run into that guy again."

I nodded absently. "There's the ship," I said with a grin, seeing Alex's dark ship in a corner. And I stopped.

No.

No.

This cannot be happening.

But of course it is.

Devon stopped and turned to look at me as I stared at the ship with pure terror written all over my face. For a good reason, too.

He turned around and swore loudly. "It's them, right?"

Of course. The bunch of idiots themselves.

Mom, Dad, Kel, Shep, and Saldana.

Great.

"What're they doing?" I choked out as I saw them all standing around the ship. "They've got us blocked out!"

"Funny how you come from a smart family."

"Stuff it, Devon," I growled as I contemplated things. "Did the others head back to the ship already?"

"Maybe. I'm not sure. After we got out of there, Alex told me to find you. She didn't say whether or not she'd be going to the ship," Devon replied as I walked backwards down the alley.

I groaned. There's no way out of this!

"Do you want me to go draw them off?" Devon asked with boredom. I turned around and looked up at him with surprise.

"You?"

"It should be fun," he said thoughtfully, a smile spreading to his face. "Do you want me to?"

"I…I mean, you don't have to," I stuttered, surprised by his offer.

"I think I'll do it. See you on the ship!" he said with a wink, and walked down the alley towards the ship, his hands in his pockets and suddenly slumping his shoulders.

I followed him quietly, apprehension rising. As we both got closer to the hangar, I jumped behind the nearest wall and parked myself there.

I exhaled shakily, my heart pounding. Dear Gods, please let us make it.

"Are you the Valaras?" I heard Devon's voice ask dangerously quietly.

"Yes, why?" I heard my mother's annoying voice reply.

"You're looking for the kid, right?"

"I am. You've seen her?" her voice replied icily.

"Yeah. Look for this place called Apple Jive. She was in there with a bunch of people."

"Can you show us the way?"

"'Fraid not." Oh my Gods. This boy's a genius. I managed to hide my laugh behind my hand. "I'm meeting some guys for a smoke. You'd do well to ask those troopers for a bit of advice, huh?"

"I suppose. Thanks for your advice."

"Whatever. Hey, you guys don't have a light, do you?"

"We don't smoke," I heard Shep say indignantly. "We'll find our own way there." I heard footsteps approaching and I froze. I turned over and walked inside of the building for cover.

"Probably a druggie."

"Do you really think he knows anything?"

"Yeah," Shep's voice said loudly. "How do you we know he's not lying? Or how did he know we were looking for her?"

"Maybe he met her and had a one night fling with her," Kel teased. "Come on. We've all been on these parts before. I've been to Apple Jive. Let's go."

Their voices faded and I stepped out of the building quickly and peered down the alley. They were just turning the corner and disappearing. I walked around quickly, my heart pounding. I walked quickly towards the ship, looking away from the stormtroopers.

The ramp to the ship was down and I was nearly there. Keep breathing. Keep breathing.

"HALT!"

SPRINT SPRINT SPRINT!

My legs worked into overdrive and I started sprinting. The adrenaline in my body pushed me farther.

It was then that I felt a vice-like grip on my arm pull me back and I yelled with frustration as I was dragged back from the ramp. "HEY!"

"MEL!"

I was turned roughly around and I groaned with disappointment. Devon was right. They are smart.

All five of them walked forward slowly, each one staring at me with different expressions on their faces: happiness, shock, anger, disbelief.

"What happened to you?" Dad said with disbelief. "Your hair!"

"Yeah, it's blonde," I spat as two stormtroopers held me nice and tight. "Remember? Way back when?"

"I can't believe you changed it," Shep growled. "I can't believe you left Alderaan! Deliberately!"

"Can you yell at me somewhere private? People are staring," I growled back, anger building up. This is a load of crap. I'm a woman. It's my life!

"Let her go, troopers. She's coming with us," Shep announced. I stared at Kel and Saldana pleadingly. Come on, Kel. Say something. I know you want to.

He wanted to say something, I know he did. I could read him. But he didn't. He opened his mouth and closed it.

There goes my last hope.

"I'm not going anywhere with you. I'm tired of dealing with your crap everyday!"

"Our crap! Our crap!" Mom exclaimed with a laugh. "What about your crap?"

"I don't give you any crap!" I protested, knowing full well that my main goal is to give them crap.

"Hey!" I heard David's voice yell angrily. "If she says she doesn't want to go, then leave her alone!"

Finally. Took you all long enough.

David, Devon, Lily and Alex all walked down the ramp. I wrenched my arms away from the troopers and shoved them backwards. I grinned at Devon who was snarling like the true devil he is.

I looked at Mom smugly, but she was staring at Alex with a shocked expression. I rolled my eyes and looked at Alex. Then I did a double take.

Why'd she dye her hair black again?

I frowned as she stared at me meaningfully. Oh, right.

Identity. Gotcha. Still, I like her blond.

"I'm sorry for breaking the news to you, Mrs. Valara, but if Lee doesn't want to go, then she won't go."

Odd. Now we're reverting back to the old me. If I'd known I'd have dyed my hair before this whole thing.

"Who are you to tell us what to do?" Shep demanded. I looked between them both and sighed. A fight over a girl. Oh, Gods.

"We're the people she's been living with for the past two weeks. And she's obviously happier here than with you."

"Don't speak of us that way!" Mom said angrily, her blue eyes sparkling dangerously.

"I'm not trying to speak of you badly," Devon shrugged. "But she doesn't want to be with you."

"I don't think you're qualified to tell us that."

"Then let's hear it from her," Alex said quietly, turning to me.

"I'm sorry, but I'm can't stay on Alderaan anymore!" I said with frustration. "All you do is lock me up in that stupid house and force me to stay inside because you're afraid! Of what! What could happen to a person that stays locked up all the time?"

I glared at them. "I'm tired of living that way. I want a life. And I want to do what Sela would do. Help the…" I trailed off as I noticed the stormtroopers. "Help the poor people out there."

Kel got my meaning and smiled.

"I'm not going back with you. Ever. Unless you change. But it's not happening anytime soon."